1996 Colorado Avalanche Moments In Time
During Thursday's 2010-2011 season home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Colorado Avalanche organization will honor the alumni of their 1996 Stanley Cup Championship team.
The 1996 Avalanche were much like the 2010 Avalanche in that they were a team on the rise following a series of failures. Joe Sakic had established himself as an elite NHL player, and young forwards Peter Forsberg and Adam Deadmarsh helped carry the load offensively. The presumably washed-up Patrick Roy was acquired mid-season, and proved why he's the best goaltender of all-time, re-defining an already Hall of Fame worthy career.
Come playoff time, the Avalanche picked up so much steam that they couldn't be stopped, and eventually captured the 1996 Stanley Cup Championship.
The Champs
1 of 7
2 Sylvian Lefebvre
4 Uwe Krupp
5 Alexei Gusarov
6 Craig Wolanin
7 Curtis Leschyshyn
8 Sandis Ozolinsh
9 Mike Ricci
10 Troy Murray
12 Chris Simon
13 Valeri Kamensky
14 Dave Hannan
16 Warren Rychel
18 Adam Deadmarsh
19 Joe Sakic
20 Rene Corbet
21 Peter Forsberg
22 Claude Lemieux
24 Jon Klemm
25 Mike Keane
26 Stephane Yelle
33 Patrick Roy
35 Stephane Fiset
48 Scott Young
52 Adam Foote
April 25, 1996: Avs Down Canucks In Overtime
2 of 7
In game five of the Western Conference quarterfinals, the Avs were tied with the lowly Vancouver Canucks two games apiece.
In game five on home ice at McNichols Arena, the Avalanche were in a 4-4 shootout with the Canucks, a must win game for the Avs. Early in overtime, Joe Sakic blasted a shot by Canucks goaltender Corey Hirsch, setting up Colorado to capture the series in game six.
May 8, 1996: Captain Clutch Strikes Again
3 of 7
Down two games to one to Jeremy Roenick and the Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado saw their Stanley Cup hopes dimming in game four, where they and the Blackhawks were deadlocked 2-2.
In triple overtime, a beautiful back door pass from defenseman Alexei Gusarov to Joe Sakic tied the series, as Captain Clutch once again prevent the Avalanche from near disaster.
May 13, 1996: Overtime Heaven
4 of 7
With the chance to advance to the third round against Detroit, game six against Chicago went to overtime for the fourth time in the series. This time, Sandis Ozolinsh was the hero, banging in his own rebound in double overtime.
May 19, 1996: Start of The Rivalry
5 of 7
Game one of the Western Conference finals against the Detroit Red Wings was one of the strangest games of the playoffs.
The heavily favored Red Wings trailed almost the entire game, partially thanks to Paul Coffey shooting the puck in his own net. Fortunately for Coffey, he also scored both of the Red Wings goals, and they game went to overtime tied 2-2. After an insane diving glove save by Chris Osgood on Joe Sakic, Mike Keane scored a floater from the blue line, and the Avs took the series lead 1-0.
May 29, 1996: Avalanche Punch Ticket To The Finals
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In a game which featured Claude Lemieux's notorious hit on Red Wings forward Kris Draper, game six against Detroit was the point of no return for Colorado. Completing the upset against the league's President's Trophy winner, Colorado got two goals from Joe Sakic as they crushed the Red Wings 5-2.
June 10, 1996: A Champion Is Born
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In a completely lopsided Stanley Cup Finals in which Colorado outscored the Florida Panthers 14-4 in the first three games, Panthers goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck mounted one final stand in game four, stopping 55 shots—including multiple highlight reel saves—as the game went to triple overtime.
Eventually, 'Beezer' reached his limit, and Uwe Krupp was the hero, scoring on a slap shot from the blue line. Sakic's 18 goals earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
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